The Ultimate Guide to Finding Jobs as a Freelance Writer
Professional freelance writers are always blogging about these sweet gigs they're working on that pays $100 to $2,000 per article. Where the heck do you find these fantastic jobs everyone's talking about?
After years, I have honed a way to find great paying gigs quickly. Here are my secrets.
Hit Up Social Media
One of the easiest ways to find gig gems is to search social media. Often, businesses will post their need for a blogger, copywriter or ghostwriter on their pages. All you have to do is search for relevant hashtags.
Put these hashtags into a Facebook or Twitter search bar to find awesome gigs:
#bloggerswanted
#writerswanted
#copywriterwanted
#bloggerjob
#bloggingjobs
#writtingjobs
#publishingjobs
#journalismjobs
#freelancewriterwanted
#remotewriterwanted
#fbloggerswanted (Fashion bloggers wanted)
#healthbloggerswanted
Search Google the Smart Way
Searching for writing jobs on Google can bring up job posts from 2005 or jobs that are five states away and require on-site work. You can avoid all of the crappy job posts by searching smart.
If you want to search a certain site, put site: in front of the site name, then add keywords in quotation marks. For example, I've had a lot of luck with this search:
site:craigslist.org "remote writer "
Some other sites other than craigslist you can try are:
site:problogger
site:freelancewritinggigs.com
Some other terms you can try are:
"content writing companies"
"freelance writing companies"
To get newer job posts, add the date:
site:craigslist.org "remote writer " November 15th 2020
Now the secret to finding high paying jobs: add the type of payment you're looking for.
site:craigslist.org "remote writer " December 15th 2020 pays $220
site:craigslist.org "remote writer " November 15th 2018 $50 per hour
site:craigslist.org "remote writer " November 15th 2018 .50 per word
Successful writer Jennifer Mattern recommends this combination:
writer and "compensation: * per article" site:craigslist.org (Replace the * with the monetary amount you want to be paid.)
If you want to search everywhere, just leave off the site and type in the rest of the search. This will bring up high-paying gigs from company job boards that most people never look at.
Use LinkedIn
Another great way to find jobs is by searching LinkedIn. No, I’m not talking about the job section. Here are the details to a special way to search:
Go to the Home page
In the search bar type “looking for writer” or “looking for freelance writer”
When it takes you to the page, click on the All Filters option on the left side
Choose Past Week
Click Apply
Posts by companies and individuals looking for writers will pop up.
Get jobs delivered to your inbox
Now that you know the search criteria, set up Google alerts so you can get these great jobs delivered right to your inbox every day.
To set up a Google Alert follow these directions:
Go to https://www.google.com/alerts
Figure out what term you want alerts for (“writer wanted,” “food writer wanted,” “tech writer needed”)
Type your search term into the box at the top of the screen
Click on the "Show Options" dropdown menu
Set it up to send you an email every day and to send you "all results"
Click "Create Alert"
Sign Up to Get Daily Job News Letters
There are some great sites out there that scour the web for freelance writing jobs, then bundles them up into daily emails. I’ve rounded up a selection that provides links to gigs that pay well. Here are my favorite daily and weekly newsletters you need to sign up for:
Never stop searching
The key to finding gigs is volume. Apply for 20 solid gigs per week until you start bringing in the clients you need to pay the bills. Once you’ve got your clients, don’t stop. You’re never done searching when you’re a freelance writer. Simply trim your search down to 12 gigs a week. Remember, a dozen in play keeps the bills paid.
Start searching for clients that pay more to replace your current clients when the gigs end. Eventually, your name will get around and clients will search you out. That’s how you know you’ve made it to the big time. Even then, don’t stop searching. Just be super picky about who you take on as a client.
If you would like more great tips like these, order your copy of No-Fluff Freelance Writer Starter Pack today!
